January 2019 – July 2022
Smoke from multiple fires in Northern California has caused our local air quality to worsen. The Lab uses the Purple Air air quality monitoring network to track air quality at the Lab in specific buildings and locations. Please continue to watch for email updates as the situation may change. https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#15.06/37.87636/-122.24745
Going strong since its launch back in April, the popular morning stretch breaks will continue through August, and likely beyond that. These daily, 10-minute sessions of easy stretches are designed to get you out of your chair and bring a little movement to your morning. https://diversity.lbl.gov/2020/07/31/join-us-daily-10-minute-breaks-for-self-care/
Potential power outages this week may affect teleworking staff. Paid administrative leave is available for staff that are prevented from working under certain conditions. If you are in this situation talk with your supervisor. Read the email message for more information. https://stratcomm-elements.lbl.gov/2020/08/18/august-18-use-of-admin-leave-for-employees-affected-by-power-outages/
The Lab’s In Case of Crisis app is being discontinued immediately. If you are at a Lab site, there are several options available for reporting an emergency. Click here to learn more. https://site-security.lbl.gov/2020/07/28/in-case-of-crisis-app-discontinued/
The Lab’s cafeteria will reopen Monday, August 3. Changes have been made to ensure your safety. All services will be touchless, with both ordering and payment done online. There will be time slots for order pick-up to minimize crowding in the cafeteria. Order online here. https://www.bayviewcafelbl.com/
Since the Lab announced a new Emergency Leave Donation Program last week, more than 1,900 leave hours have been donated for colleagues in need of additional leave for absences related to COVID-19. Read more about this new program that allows employees to aid those most affected by the pandemic. https://ehs.lbl.gov/2020/07/15/donate-unused-vacation-time-to-help-colleagues-hit-by-covid-19/
The July 15 edition of the Return to Work newsletter includes a video message from Director Witherell and contains information on community locations for testing, the extension of telework until Jan. 4, 2021, and the reopening of the cafeteria. https://elements.lbl.gov/Email/Index/6c14c5c6-5e10-4f1f-8c33-8a882a7e48ad?recipientCode=xQwx1%2b0c9u4zSIYWLTPH0wxEkZI%3d
It’s all downhill from here…for the Lab’s goats, that is. Despite some confused animals and a dropped video camera, our wildfire-reducing grazers successfully relocated to the horseshoe curve along Cyclotron Road. Their chomping helped limit the severity of a recent brush fire in that area. https://youtu.be/rfUjSo5kw2E
What was it like to return to the Lab to work in early June after so many weeks away? Multimedia specialist Marilyn Sargent captured some of the sights and sounds of this effort — from the security gates, shuttle buses, and safety precautions, to COVID-related research — in this photo feature. https://berkeleylab.exposure.co/return-to-work?source=share-berkeleylab
An early morning grass fire Saturday off Cyclotron Road across from the Foothill Parking Lot burned about 500 square feet before being put out by the Alameda County Fire Department with assistance from the Lab’s Site Security and the Site Operations Center. The goats were grazing there last week. https://site-security.lbl.gov/2020/07/11/grass-fire-on-cyclotron-road-goats-save-the-day/